On the latest Sports Retort podcast, Jim Chairusmi checks in from Russia with a full report on the Olympic buildup: some good, some bad and lots of very, very strange, including his decision to eat at an eatery named Asian Restaurant over one next door called European Restaurant. He argues that the Games organizers have gotten a bad rap from reporters without enough else to cover so far. He tells tales of surprisingly healthy looking stray dogs and surprisingly laid back early-morning hotel fire alarms. He compares the operation to a giant act of performance art and calls it the most innovative Olympics of all time.

Plus: Alabama has the No. 1 football recruiting class. (And a marching-band song called “Yea Alabama.”) We try to make sense of how the Lakers got down to four useable players in Cleveland. And much more.

SPORTS, THE JOURNAL WAY

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